Claim OwnershipThe Dental CEO Podcast
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Welcome to the Dental CEO® Podcast — where Dr. Scott Leune applies proven business strategies from leading entrepreneurs and CEOs to the complexities of dental practice ownership.
In each episode, Dr. Leune dives into candid conversations with leaders from industries far beyond the operatory, uncovering strategies, struggles, and breakthroughs that align with the challenges dentists face every day.
From scaling operations to maximizing profitability, these discussions reveal the financial frameworks and operational insights that empower dentists to lead with precision, manage with efficiency, and achieve sustainable growth as the CEO of their practice.
In each episode, Dr. Leune dives into candid conversations with leaders from industries far beyond the operatory, uncovering strategies, struggles, and breakthroughs that align with the challenges dentists face every day.
From scaling operations to maximizing profitability, these discussions reveal the financial frameworks and operational insights that empower dentists to lead with precision, manage with efficiency, and achieve sustainable growth as the CEO of their practice.
57 Episodes
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Dentists talk about overhead, EBITDA, and take-home pay all the time—but most aren’t actually calculating them the same way. In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune breaks down what these numbers really mean, how to calculate them correctly, and the benchmarks healthy practices should aim for. He explains the difference between true overhead and discretionary spending, how EBITDA should be calculated after doctor compensation, and why many dentists with 60–65% overhead are unknowingly losing hundreds of thousands in potential income each year.
1What would happen if you treated your practice like you just bought it? In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune breaks down a practical 90-day strategy to rapidly grow collections and profitability. He explains the key drivers of new patient flow, diagnosis, case acceptance, fees, and expenses and the specific actions that can quickly move the needle, from improving marketing and phone systems to implementing AI diagnostics, simplifying treatment plans, optimizing insurance fees, and tightening major expense categories like supplies, labs, and staffing.
Is buying a dental practice really the safer move, or has the equation changed? In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune revisits the buy versus startup debate and explains why his thinking has shifted in today’s market. He defines what a modern well executed startup actually looks like, including lower build costs, smart lease negotiations, optimized footprints, advanced cloud based systems, AI integration, ideal equipment selection, and a fully designed patient experience. He then contrasts that with the realities of acquisitions, from compromised locations and outdated systems to cultural resistance, upgrade costs, and limited long term growth ceilings. While acquisitions may provide short term financial stability, startups today often offer greater control, higher ceilings, and stronger long term returns when properly funded. If you are deciding between buying and building, this episode provides a clear strategic framework for making the right move.
Should your next move be a startup, an acquisition, or even a merger? In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune explains why repeating the same growth strategy over and over can stall momentum and how a blended approach creates smarter expansion, easier funding, healthier cash flow, and stronger long term equity. He breaks down how bank underwriting changes after your first location, why stacking too many startups can strain your organization, how acquisitions can deliver immediate profit improvement, and how mergers and larger group structures increase overall valuation through EBITDA multiple expansion. If your goal is to build real net worth and not just add locations, this episode outlines a practical strategic framework for sustainable multi location growth.
Most dental startups struggle not because of location or marketing, but because the weeks leading up to opening are rushed, unstructured, and poorly planned. In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune breaks down exactly how to open a startup practice cleanly and confidently by focusing on hiring the right team, training with intention, building systems before day one, and choreographing the patient experience from the first phone call to payment. This conversation outlines the operational decisions that separate organized, profitable startups from those that open stressed, reactive, and behind from the start.
Legacy dental IT systems were built for a different era—and continuing to rely on them is becoming more expensive, more disruptive, and more limiting every year. In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune breaks down why server-based setups, patchwork software integrations, and outdated infrastructure are no longer sustainable in modern dentistry. The conversation explores how cloud-based platforms, integrated imaging, automation, and AI-ready systems are reshaping clinical workflows, reducing IT costs, and improving both patient and staff experience. From startups and new builds to existing practices and multi-location groups, this episode explains when it is time to modernize, what a clean and future-ready IT stack looks like, and why waiting only increases cost and complexity.
Dental imaging was never designed for today’s reality of AI, multi-location practices, cloud workflows, virtual teams, and data-driven decision-making—and it’s starting to show. In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with Dustin Johnson, Co-Founder and CTO of SOTA Cloud, to explain why server-based, siloed imaging systems are quietly costing practices time, money, and growth, while limiting access to the very data modern dentistry depends on. They unpack how cloud-based imaging transforms referrals, case acceptance, data security, staff accountability, and scalability, why startups must get this right from day one, and why established practices that delay this shift are already falling behind in both business performance and patient care.
Rising construction costs have made dental office design one of the biggest financial risk factors in a startup. In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with Chris Raba, owner of Lean Dental Design, to explain how poor space planning, bloated layouts, and inefficient design decisions quietly drive up construction costs and leave dentists over budget before they ever open. They break down why usable square footage matters more than total size, how small design choices can create massive cost swings, and why detailed planning and value engineering are now essential in today’s construction climate. If you’re planning a startup, relocation, or expansion, this episode shows how smarter design can protect your budget and your long-term success
Eric Masson, Partner at Eskow Law Group, joins Scott Leune on The Dental CEO Podcast to break down the legal strategies dentists need when starting, buying, or growing a practice. Drawing from years of experience in healthcare transactions, Eric explains why lease agreements are often landlord-friendly, why legal counsel should be involved before signing a Letter of Intent, and how to properly structure associate agreements, non-competes, and partnerships to avoid costly disputes. He also shares insights on deal fatigue, partner buy-outs, and DSO structures for asset protection, estate planning, and easier access to capital—providing essential legal knowledge every dental practice owner should understand.
Most lawsuits in dentistry don’t start with patients—they start with employees. This episode breaks down how common HR missteps like unclear policies, poor documentation, and bad advice turn everyday staff issues into legal problems. A direct conversation on what actually puts dental practices at risk and how to avoid it.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune speaks with orthodontist and entrepreneur Dr. Ingrid Murra about the current state of clear aligner therapy, examining how incentive structures, training gaps, and rapid adoption have influenced patient outcomes and provider profitability. They discuss collaboration between general dentists and orthodontists, the role of virtual monitoring in improving compliance, the importance of maintaining high clinical standards at scale, and lessons from building a dental business beyond the operatory.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with Dr. Aditi Agarwal, founder of Practice By Numbers, to challenge dentists to rethink how their practices operate. The conversation explores how automation and data-driven systems can replace time-consuming “junk work” like insurance verification, scheduling, collections, phone management, and reporting—freeing teams to focus on patients instead of paperwork. Scott and Dr. Agarwal break down what it means to run a dental practice from a true CEO perspective, how to create consistency across operations, improve collections and case acceptance, reduce staff burnout, and build a calmer, more professional practice environment. This episode is essential listening for dentists who are ready to simplify operations, scale intelligently, and lead their practice with clarity and control.
In this episode, Scott breaks down how to reinvent the patient experience so thoroughly that patients can’t stop talking about your practice. From modern design and comfort-focused amenities to digital workflows, high-tech diagnostics, and frictionless communication, he outlines the systems and touches that build trust, increase case acceptance, and elevate your brand. Whether you're launching a startup or transforming the practice you already own, this blueprint shows how an exceptional patient experience can reshape your career and dramatically grow your practice.
Leadership looks different for female dentists—and it often comes with unfair labels, blurred boundaries, and added pressure at home and in the practice. In this episode, Scott Leune sits down with Curve Dental President Jana Macon to discuss the real challenges women navigate in leadership and how they can set healthier boundaries, communicate clearly, build a strong results-driven culture, while reducing unnecessary demands on their time and energy and protecting their well-being.
Real estate is one of the highest-stakes—and most overlooked—financial decisions in dentistry, and in this episode Scott sits down with Colin Carr, CEO of CARR, to reveal how lease renewals, poorly negotiated terms, missed concessions, and uninformed decisions routinely cost dentists hundreds of thousands of dollars over their careers. From TI allowances and free rent to assignability clauses, tax strategy, and the true wealth-building potential of owning your building, this conversation breaks down the strategies every dentist needs but almost no one is taught. Whether you're planning a startup, buying a practice, or approaching a renewal, this episode will reshape how you think about real estate and protect the future of your practice.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with Kevin Tallman, CEO of Mango Voice, to discuss how AI-powered phone systems are transforming dental practices. Drawing on data from more than 12,000 practices, they reveal how much revenue is lost through missed calls and how AI receptionists are already improving patient interactions and operational efficiency. This concise, insight-packed conversation shows dentists exactly where phone technology is headed and how to prepare for the changes ahead.
In this episode, Scott Leune and Dr. Christian Coachman break down how to use technology, storytelling, and a differentiated “Apple Store” patient experience to dramatically increase case acceptance. Learn how mastering planning, guided execution, and emotional dentistry can elevate your reputation, attract better cases, and transform your career.
This episode of The Dental CEO Podcast offers a clear, practical breakdown of how dentists can finally take control of their financials. Dr. Scott Leune explains the key numbers every practice owner must track, the overhead targets that separate average practices from highly profitable ones, and why messy financial statements lead to years of lost income. You’ll learn how to spot overspending, diagnose collection problems, and evaluate a practice before buying it—all with the goal of increasing profit and reducing stress. It’s a straightforward reset for any dentist ready to understand their numbers and make more money with less chaos.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune talks with Jesse Israel — keynote speaker, mindfulness teacher, and founder of The Big Quiet — about how leaders can cut through the constant noise of modern life to regain clarity, purpose, and control. Jesse shares his “Four S’s” framework—Stillness, Solo Time, Slow Technology, and Saying No Thank You—to help reduce stress, sharpen focus, and create space for what truly matters. Tune in to learn how to quiet the chaos, lead with intention, and tap into your unique zone of genius both in business and in life.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune shares powerful insights on turning setbacks into momentum and embracing the process of reinvention. He explores how decisive action, adaptability, and consistent effort—not perfection—drive lasting growth. Through real-world examples and lessons drawn from leadership and business, Dr. Leune challenges listeners to stop overanalyzing, start moving, and create the next chapter in both their practice and their life.
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